<p>I wonder how people would react to a bit of political theater that happened when I was in college in the mid-70s – during the first or second wave of campus thought-police activity. A student ran for student body president on a platform that student governments are self-important, humorless, and useless. One of his posters read “Women! Arise from the beds of your oppressors! (And fix our breakfasts!)”</p>
<p>Here’s a quiz for you. How did the campus feminist group respond?</p>
<p>a) They appreciated the satire.
b) They ignored it as the bit of juvenile political humor it was.
c) They engaged the candidate in a discussion of the issues of the campaign.
d) They called him names, tore down ALL his posters, wrote threatening letters to the editor of the school newspaper, and demanded that the university expel him.</p>
<p>Give the nature of humorless self-righteous know-it-alls on campus, do I have to tell you the correct answer?</p>
<p>It grieves me to think that we have become such a humorless society that Blazing Saddles could never be made today, that Michael Moore passes as a sage, and that universities think the first amendment is great unless someone feels uncomfortable. What a spineless, colorless, whiffle-ball world.</p>
<p>I’m pretty politically incorrect about a lot of things, and I agree with some of the above posters that diversity training is waaaay overdone, BUT I would die of shame if my children attended a party such as the one described at the beginning of this thread.</p>
<p>We talk and read a lot about history around here, and in recent months have watched Schindler’s List, Hotel Rwanda, To Kill a Mockingbird, a long BBC history about the rise of Hitler. I find it hard to believe that college students who have been exposed to the study of history, even casually, would behave like that.</p>
<p>I agree with you that much of diversity training is plain silliness. Taught by the wrong person, it’s downright offensive. But the idea that it’s perfectly OK to reinforce the same stereotypes that have led to murderous behavior against various minorities is just … weird.</p>
<p>Then again, the KKK and other white supremacist groups are on the rise. Maybe it’s a sign of the times.</p>
<p>The “thought police” is even weirder/scarier to me. Your assumption that idiots dressing in politcally-incorrect garb will lead to “murderous behavior” is a massive leap.</p>
<p>if everyone knew the purpose of the party was to come dressed un-PC, and these kids came dressed un-PC, i really can’t figure out the problem. is it really necessary to have a campus-wide discussion about this? seems like this problem is overexaggerated. </p>
<p>calm down, macalester. don’t blow things out of proportion!</p>
<p>so is it un-pc to come as a lynching victim…how is that un-pc, please explain that to me…to make fun of someone who was murdered for the color of their skin is cruel</p>
<p>why not just have the party guest come in shackles with fake brands or with numbers on the arms put there by fake nazis</p>
<p>as for the KKK, yeah, its growing, but in more insidious ways using immigration to attract new “members”</p>
<p>fun group</p>
<p>yeah imagine a party where the guests are all holocaust victims, or fake parapalegics…guess there is no limit to poor taste, racism, and insesitivity…</p>
<p>so, kristin, say your grandma died in Aushwitz, guess you wouldn’t have a problem with people hosting a party with guests coming in rags, with numbers tattoed on their arms…got it</p>
<p>"If there is such a thing, IF THERE IS SUCH A THING? Ok replace “negro” “black” or “colored” with “white” in any of the following statements, EVEN JOKINGLY, and you are considered a racist:</p>
<p>United Negro College Fund
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Black History Month
Black Entertainment Television</p>
<p>Also the million man march, Martin Luther King day, Kwanzaa, Juneteenth…"</p>
<p>My, my. Such anger, Joev. Now let me attempt to understand where you’re coming from here: You think that The United Negro College Fund and The NAACP are racist organizations? You’re offended by Black Entertainment Television, Black History Month, Martin Luther King Day, and Kwanzaa? You think that the Million Man March was the equivalent of a massive Klan or Aryan Nation Rally? Is this your supposition?</p>
<p>If you can answer in the affirmative to any of the above questions, than you are appallingly lacking in understanding, both of history (dispite the fact that you believe it is constantly being “shoved down your throat”), and the facts pertaining to current race relaions America. Hint: The passing of The Civil Rights Act 40 years ago did not magically erase the legacy of 300 years of America’s Racial history (the self-righteous indignation of PC fatiqued persons not withstanding).</p>
<p>I’ll tell you what—Let’s trade places. I’ll take your place as a “sick to the nth degree” white kid, living in a society that has, since it’s inception, burdened persons such as yourself with the status of unquestioned racial superiority. And you can take my place as a member of a racial minority blessed with the status of “social problem” constantly in need of “fixing/controlling” (“What’s the matter with those people anyway? Have you read, The Bell Curve? They really are inherently less intelligent, you know.”) Let’s see you yells, “uncle” first. Let’s see who’s most “sickened to the nth degree”.</p>
<p>“Do these parties hurt minorities in any way? No. Are minorities physical threatened by these parties? No. Are minorities mental threatened by these parties? No. IS ANYONE AT ALL HARMED BY THESE PARTIES? um NO (save for a few soccer mom’s who feel sorry that the white man did anything ever.)”</p>
<p>Ask yourself those questions again AFTER we’ve traded places, Joev. But hey, if you might find it more comfortable (after all, I’m a middle aged black woman), why not just trade places with one of that relative handful of black students admitted in your class? You guys can go to the party together, and prove that there’s no reason for anyone to feel offended</p>
<p>ironic you say that, my great uncle died in auschwitz. i’ll even do you one better and let you in on a personal story: i was raped in 8th grade. how would i feel if someone came dressed as an auschwitz victim or a rape victim? good question. i’d have to say i’d shrug it off as some stupid college boy behaving immaturely.</p>
<p>personally, i find myself to be a very laid back person. one that can really “go with the flow” if you will. i’m confident with who i am and proud to be independent and able to make up my mind. how did that come about? i have parents that allow me to stretch my wings and experience life. i’d hardly say i’m a sheltered kid.</p>
<p>parents like you worry me. i have friends that have overbearing parents who try to protect their kids from anything and everything “bad” in the world. these kids are notoriously the ones that are irresponsible, immature, and make bad decisions…exactly the type of behavior excessive parenting is trying to stop! </p>
<p>i’m slightly amused at how heated this particular thread has become. there is another one in this forum about advances that have been made since many parents were in college. perhaps you would benefit from reading over that rather than overanalyzing a mindless college party.</p>
<p>after all, a stupid college party is just that: a stupid college party. there have been tons of them in the past and they won’t ever stop. it’s a good idea to stand up for your morals and principles and other things that you believe in, but seriously people…pick your battles. so much more could be accomplished with this energy and vigor than some pointless bickering on a collegeconfidential.com message board.</p>
<p>citygirlsmom, if you’re really that worried about my generation having no regard or respect for past events, do something about it. talk to your daughter’s history department chair about having an awareness day. volunteer with your kids in a homeless shelter. show them a documentary about the deep south pre-civil war. teach them about dred scott. watch the movie ‘promises’ about the israeli/palestinian conflict.</p>
<p>i dont think these kids were being barbaric. this response, however, is getting there.</p>
<p>I really don’t think you would shrug it off, but whatever…to others it is shameful</p>
<p>it is not that this is some stupid college party, it is an attitude that seems to be growing and people not caring who they hurt and a disregard for others and what they suffered through</p>
<p>and my Ds schools DO have what you suggest</p>
<p>read some of my posts, I do lots of volunteering, so I walk the walk unlike so many others</p>
<p>over ananlyzing…gosh…guess we shouldn’t worry anymore about racism, sexism, cause that is allll better now</p>
<p>wonder how your grandmother would feel if you dressed like a holocaust victim drinking beer making fun of her, guess you wouldn’t care much about how SHE might feel</p>
<p>I am sorry about what happened to you, but if say, it was your daughter who was raped, I wonder if your eh attutude and your being so cavaler would hold</p>
<p>its is a good thing that not everyone just goes with the flow…you just let racist remarks pass, you wouldn’t care if your friend was called the N word, yeah, just let it slide, cause so long as you aren’t hurt, who cares right</p>
<p>that is the attitude that hurts people</p>
<p>eh, so what if they call my brother a f#$ or my grandma a dumb j#$, matters not…yeah, laid back when it comes to prejudice is okey dokey</p>
<p>You are clearly a superior human being to anyone else on this entire forum, especially me. Congratulations. I’m anxiously awaiting a snide remark and belittling response to this post which will mark your THREE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOURTH post.</p>
<p>I think the problem is some people on this thread don’t even feel like those kids were being jerks. They feel like it’s justified rebellion. Which is kind of disturbing coming from parents with kids of their own. </p>
<p>Recently it’s been pretty cool to “rebel” against political correctness. But the truth is, it’s frustrating that some of these people think that their “crusade against diversity training” is so important that it can be done at the expense of the fight against discrimination.</p>
<p>I never said those organizations were racist, I just said if you had white history month, or a United White College Fund, or Caucasian Entertainment Television, it would be considered racist. Double standard? You decide. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Again I never said blacks had it easier than whites, but when white males are constantly made fun of on network TV or in commercials (the white rapper show?) I am going to say something. White males are the only group that it is PC to attack anymore. I never said I was offended or threatened, and if a bunch of black kids wanted to throw a party where they dressed up like dorks and said they were white nerds or dressed as slave master’s daughters or something, I would say more power to them. The whole point of this “argument” is that it is an UN-PC party and to offend as many people as possible. Judging by the gigantic overreaction on this thread, I guess the goal was accomplished. </p>
<p>WashDad said it best:
</p>
<p>Diversity is already happening all around us, forced diversity will never work, because it will end up in never ending discussions such as this. </p>
<p>To sum up my whole damn point: Slavery was bad, I get it.</p>